Fri. 05/02 – GTA 6 Delayed To 2026

May 2, 2025 16m

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The big cultural event of maybe the decade is going to take a little while longer to get here. Earnings from Apple and Amazon. More signs of the impending death of the password. More signs of self-driving rapidly becoming reality. And in the longreads, what happens when AI completely changes your field? The AI researchers were the first to experience it.

Links:

Grand Theft Auto VI release delayed to May 2026 (The Verge)
Amazon Says Operating Profits May Decline Amid Economic Uncertainty (NYTimes)
Microsoft goes passwordless by default on new accounts (The Verge)
Temu Blocks US Shoppers From Seeing Products Shipped From China (Wired)
Aurora’s driverless trucks are making deliveries in Texas (The Verge)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

When ChatGPT Broke an Entire Field: An Oral History (Quanta Magazine)
The Life of the Most-Used Citi Bike in New York City (Bloomberg)

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AI-Generated Summary

Game Delays: A Highly Anticipated Release

The episode kicks off with major news from Rockstar Games, revealing a significant delay of Grand Theft Auto 6, now set to release on May 26, 2026. The development team apologizes for the delay, emphasizing the need for extra time to meet the high standards expected by fans. Prior teasers showed a Miami-like environment, suggesting a return to the diverse narratives that made the franchise a cultural phenomenon. The missed deadlines raise concerns about fiscal forecasting for Take-Two, particularly as GTA 6 was anticipated to be a pivotal revenue driver in an otherwise stagnant gaming market.

Revenue Roundup: Apple and Amazon's Earnings

Next, the podcast shifts focus to the latest earnings reports from Apple and Amazon. Apple experiences a modest 5% revenue growth year-on-year, but notes a decline in Chinese sales and faces mounting tariff-related costs totalling $900 million. Meanwhile, Amazon's mixed results report a 9% increase in revenue but forecast lower operating income which led to a decline in stock price post-release. CEO Andy Jassy stresses a focus on inventory management amidst uncertain tariff implications.

The Shift Towards a Passwordless Future

In tech developments, there’s a notable update from Microsoft, which is moving towards a passwordless future by making new accounts default to passwordless methods. This initiative is accompanied by improved user experiences and security measures as users see significantly better success rates with pass keys compared to traditional passwords, which sit at a low 32% success rate.

E-commerce Buzz: Temu's Operational Changes

The podcast discusses the ongoing turmoil at Temu as it removes products shipped directly from China in response to new trade tariffs. This bewildering move raises confusion among users who now face a more limited selection, mirroring moves from competitors like Amazon. The platform's operational strategy is shifting toward local fulfillment, but the fallout from high-profile trade changes has left many sellers and customers disoriented.

Self-Driving Trucks: A New Era Begins

In a significant leap toward autonomous technology, Aurora has officially launched its commercial driverless trucking service, targeting deliveries between Dallas and Houston with future plans for further expansion. Following extensive testing, this marks a pivotal moment for the self-driving sector. Aurora's leadership expresses their vision for transforming the logistics landscape amidst challenges faced by the industry, including labor shortages.

Longreads: AI's Impact on Traditional Fields

Lastly, the episode explores the longreads section, focusing on the sweeping changes AI has instigated within research fields. Experts recount their experiences of adaptation amidst the rapid rise of tools like chat GPT, which drastically outpaced traditional methodologies and transformed academic workflows, leading to an existential crisis for many researchers. The conversation underscores the necessity for institutions to evolve in order to keep up with AI-driven advancements.